catapult
Americannoun
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an ancient military engine for hurling stones, arrows, etc.
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a device for launching an airplane from the deck of a ship.
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British. a slingshot.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
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to be catapulted.
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to move or spring up suddenly, quickly, or forcibly, as if by means of a catapult.
The car catapulted down the highway. When he heard the alarm he catapulted out of bed.
noun
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US and Canadian name: slingshot. a Y-shaped implement with a loop of elastic fastened to the ends of the two prongs, used mainly by children for shooting small stones, etc
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a heavy war engine used formerly for hurling stones, etc
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a device installed in warships to launch aircraft
verb
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(tr) to shoot forth from or as if from a catapult
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to move precipitately
she was catapulted to stardom overnight
Other Word Forms
- catapultic adjective
Etymology
Origin of catapult
1570–80; < Latin catapulta < Greek katapéltēs, equivalent to kata- cata- + péltēs hurler, akin to pállein to hurl
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Dubai’s and Doha’s airports were catapulted into major air-travel hubs starting in the 2000s as their own countries became global economic powerhouses.
From MarketWatch
I think that you need an iconic person from your city in order to catapult the culture of comedy.
From Los Angeles Times
She did just, posting 93.00, the highest score of the second run and one that catapulted her up the standings into silver medal position.
From BBC
Gu, who had a poor second run and risked finishing out of the medals, came back strongly, scoring 89.00 with her final effort to catapult her into the silver medal position.
From Barron's
With these five simple words, a Hindu man who stood up for a Muslim shopkeeper has been catapulted to fame and become an unlikely hero in India.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
